Students suspended, expelled over Facebook posts

[Ken Sapp]

Considering that any suggestion of pedophilia or rape can permanently harm a persons reputation then they should definitely be punished harshly for using terms that carry such weight.

If it weren't for the particular language used then I would say that the school has no call punishing them for their activities outside of school. However they did cross a line and deserve to be punished for it. Maybe next time they vent they will be a wee bit more careful picking their words before posting.

 

[Katana314]

Honestly, I wouldn't even think of defending the students if this were a case of cyberbullying (ie, making such an offensive remark on another student). I don't really see why teachers should be treated as somehow able to tolerate that stuff more. I support the school on this.

 

[Leg End]

What the hell happened to Freedom of Speech?

Defamation and Slander aren't protected by Freedom of Speech in the United States of America.

Which reminds me, I have a lawyer to call. Damn bastards aren't getting away with putting my face on that shit that easily... >.>

Also, considering it was a technical private conversation, yes it does. It wasn't meant to get out and someone leaked it. What they say amongst themselves in a private place should not be punishable with a suspension or expulsion. :/

The school administration can fuck off in this case.

 

[agnosticOCD]

Generally, where there's smoke, there's fire.

What's most likely going on is this teacher *IS* a pedophile, plausibly a rapist, but has friends in high places to protect him from being properly accused.

Yes, being assholes on the internet won't really do them any good, but there must be a reason they would say things like that, and the way the school responded just shows them as a bunch of butthurt adults who must have been caught with their pants down at such insults.

And people wonder why the school has over-reacted over this incident, you people, not only have zero evidence to suggest these people are in any way wrong here, but you're making pretty damn horrible accusations towards people you don't even know based on someones Facebook comment.

What's most likely, "Zaik" is that the students in questions were annoyed at the teacher in some way and in their anger posted said accusation on Facebook, it's very common and happens all the time but in a profession like teaching; where such slanderous comments, even if they aren't true, can leave people without a job - it's serious.

The students are clearly just being made examples of, because in all honesty if you were that teacher, having done nothing wrong, but then had to teach a class full of people calling you a pedophile behind your back I doubt you'd be pleased with the situation.

The conclusion that should be drawn from this is not "oh the teacher must have done something wrong", that's a moronic attitude at best, but that "free speech" does not entitle you to make such slanderous comments and that if you are going to assassinate someones character in public [which Facebook is] you'd best have some evidence or really mean the accusation in question.

They deserved what they got.

No, they don't. Being expelled is far worse than a few words behind someone's back. I would defend your right to call me a shitfaced cocksucker, even if I disagree with you completely. But then I'd try to prove you wrong.

Being made an example of, huh? Wonderful. Rule your students through fear, and instead of giving them an incentive not to be this way, they expel these kids who meant no harm. The individual learning process severely perverted. They could have done something less harmful than that; that was not a mature way to deal with it.

I know having that kind of reputation can get you out of a job, but you're an asshole for dealing with it at the cost of the education of students on the honor role just because you couldn't take what they said, and that's not accusing the teacher of actually having some kind of libido problem, it's in the way they dealt with it.

Free speech is saying what you want, and hearing what you don't want said. You can take it and deal with it or you can cower behind you're "I'm Offended!" spot. It's a matter of your actions proving the negative things said about you wrong. Work for a reputation, and don't hide behind a job title and presupposed authority.

 

[EeveeElectro]

Huh... when I was getting bullied, when they got hold of my number and started sending me tons of abusive texts and calls, the school refused to do anything about it because it was outside of school hours.
I guess because this is a serious accusation, they had to step in.
Still, it's stupid. It's just silly name calling by the sounds of it, although they should probably investigate the teacher in question.

 

[Superbeast]

I am wondering, and somewhat concerned, why people are defending the kids on this one. Calling someone a paedophile or rapist on such a widely-viewed medium as Facebook could have extremely serious consequences. Never mind the fact that defamation of character (which such an allegation is should it be found baseless) is not protected by "Free Speech".

The teacher in question could lose their job, be ostracised by the community in which they live and even suffer assaults due to such allegations (whether the law declares them innocent or not).

In fact, such allegations are so harmful, and so serious, that is is likely the school investigated the matter itself, and found no examples of wrong-doing on the teacher's behalf, thus decided to take action against the students who presented false statements against the teacher.

I see absolutely nothing wrong with it. You wouldn't get away with it in real life, so why should children be given a free pass to potentially wreck the life of someone (presumably, by the lack of legal action from the school) innocent? Thus I support the school, and I would expect nothing less to happen to my children if they were to make similar comments about one of their teachers.

SNIP

So I guess you would be totally happy, if you work in a profession dealing with children on a daily basis, with someone putting up on Facebook that you are a paedophile and a rapist? Given all that such allegations can entail for your job prospects?

 

[ace_of_something]

Calling a teacher that is pretty damn close to the equivalent of trying to file a false police report.

Which is a Felony in every state.

Libel is a civil matter. Anyone whose job is to work with children CAN and does have their career damaged by such statements.

It's a harsh punishment, too harsh in my opinion. But they'd get in trouble if they said that at school too, so I think they deserved a slap in the wrist.

Sorry, kid is wrong and given the nature of the accusation you can't expect him and that teacher to ever be in the same building without tension among the other students.
Kid should be moved to a different school.
Rather than make a teacher who did nothing get a new job.

 

[Ren3004]

It's a harsh punishment, too harsh in my opinion. But they'd get in trouble if they said that at school too, so I think they deserved a slap in the wrist.

Calling a person a pedophile and a rapist, especially someone who works around kids is pretty mean. Even if the teacher was indeed making sexual advances towards students then facebook isn't the place to say that anyway.

 

[Zaik]

Generally, where there's smoke, there's fire.

What's most likely going on is this teacher *IS* a pedophile, plausibly a rapist, but has friends in high places to protect him from being properly accused.

Yes, being assholes on the internet won't really do them any good, but there must be a reason they would say things like that, and the way the school responded just shows them as a bunch of butthurt adults who must have been caught with their pants down at such insults.

And people wonder why the school has over-reacted over this incident, you people, not only have zero evidence to suggest these people are in any way wrong here, but you're making pretty damn horrible accusations towards people you don't even know based on someones Facebook comment.

What's most likely, "Zaik" is that the students in questions were annoyed at the teacher in some way and in their anger posted said accusation on Facebook, it's very common and happens all the time but in a profession like teaching; where such slanderous comments, even if they aren't true, can leave people without a job - it's serious.

The students are clearly just being made examples of, because in all honesty if you were that teacher, having done nothing wrong, but then had to teach a class full of people calling you a pedophile behind your back I doubt you'd be pleased with the situation.

The conclusion that should be drawn from this is not "oh the teacher must have done something wrong", that's a moronic attitude at best, but that "free speech" does not entitle you to make such slanderous comments and that if you are going to assassinate someones character in public [which Facebook is] you'd best have some evidence or really mean the accusation in question.

They deserved what they got.

So you're saying that I am wrong and it's completely wrong to assume that they did anything wrong with just two honor students' accusations, however it's totally fine to not investigate anything at all and just punish the two honor students.

 

[The_Yeti]

What the hell happened to Freedom of Speech?

Defamation and Slander aren't protected by Freedom of Speech in the United States of America.

Which reminds me, I have a lawyer to call. Damn bastards aren't getting away with putting my face on that shit that easily... >.>

Also, considering it was a technical private conversation, yes it does. It wasn't meant to get out and someone leaked it. What they say amongst themselves in a private place should not be punishable with a suspension or expulsion. :/

The school administration can fuck off in this case.

Facebook, Private? hah..haha...Hahahaaaaaa, no.

lets log into facebook and enter every bit of information about where you live and who you are and plaster it into a profile-share network, the moment you add info to a facebook account you pretty much spraypaint it on the walls for all too see, the kids ignorantly accused a man of crimes worthy of jail time much less losing his career, which he probably spent many years working towards. How would you feel if you worked your entire life to become proficient in something, just to have some asshole post your picture somewhere public ignorantly and falsely claiming you raped someone? Say goodbye to a hard earned life long career.

These kids deserve to be hung out to dry, along with anyone else that would publicly stomp someones character in such an ignorant and life-wrecking manor.

 

[ace_of_something]

Why would a teacher Friend a pupil on Facebook. That's kinda Pedo-y.

I've heard Facebook's getting shut-down (Just a rumor, don't quote me), and if it's getting kid's expelled, I think it's for the best.

My mother is friends with some of her students. It's a way to connect with kids. Although, to be fair those kids are like 14-18 and my ma is their volleyball coach.

It could be he was friends with that kids friend (who is the child of his friend) or something like that.

 

[Shock and Awe]

Bullshit, the rule was obviously made with intention toward actual false reports, not facebook shenanigans. Whoever made the call is a fucking retard.

 

[Leg End]

What the hell happened to Freedom of Speech?

Defamation and Slander aren't protected by Freedom of Speech in the United States of America.

Which reminds me, I have a lawyer to call. Damn bastards aren't getting away with putting my face on that shit that easily... >.>

Also, considering it was a technical private conversation, yes it does. It wasn't meant to get out and someone leaked it. What they say amongst themselves in a private place should not be punishable with a suspension or expulsion. :/

The school administration can fuck off in this case.

Facebook, Private? hah..haha...Hahahaaaaaa, no.

lets log into facebook and enter every bit of information about where you live and who you are and plaster it into a profile-share network, the moment you add info to a facebook account you pretty much spraypaint it on the walls for all too see, the kids ignorantly accused a man of crimes worthy of jail time much less losing his career, which he probably spent many years working towards. How would you feel if you worked your entire life to become proficient in something, just to have some asshole post your picture somewhere public ignorantly and falsely claiming you raped someone? Say goodbye to a hard earned life long career.

These kids deserve to be hung out to dry, along with anyone else that would publicly stomp someones character in such an ignorant and life-wrecking manor.

Hahahahaha... yes. :/

The first is not a crime, the latter is.

They did. Hence, the joke involving a lawyer. I have had my photo posted on Facebook proclaiming that I was a child molester and that I routinely lured children into my house with video games and cartoons. :/ Can I sue them for that? Probably not, biased courts. Did I? No. I just reported it and it was taken down, albeit a while after. I stated to them that they could call me whatever the fuck they want, just to keep it to themselves.

This case is similar, except someone decided to be a prick and snitch.

This is no way to treat children. "Think of the children" my ass. :/

 

[Veldel]

God I hate facebook this just give me more reason to dislike it getting in trouble for saying somthing.

 

[SofaEater]

ok first.

HAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHA dumbass kid, facebook isn't private

now back to being serious. -_-

This quote scared me. He abused her rights, it technically wasn't legal because she did open it up for him but she was not legally required to and could not be punished for not opening her account. And by doing so, she confirmed that it was her account cause the defense "What, thats not me someone else put up my information without my permission" works fan-fucking-tastically in a situation like this.

"Sosa is currently drafting an apology to her teacher. At the same time though, she said her school principal, Jolene Morris, violated her privacy by ordering her to log into her Facebook account at a school library computer. Morris then reportedly read the offending post and ensuing responses from friends before ordering Sosa to delete the posts. As many as 15 children made two dozen posts about the teacher in the Facebook conversation, but their penalties were not as severe."

 

[Leg End]

Bullshit, the rule was obviously made with intention toward actual false reports, not facebook shenanigans. Whoever made the call is a fucking retard.

Kenshin hath spoken.

Obey or feel the wrath of Battousai, The Man Slayer. XD

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

Serves the students right... Beeing jerks like that towards people trying to feed them knowledge in life..

Teachers don't have an easy job, and putting up with all the shit some students do makes me wonder why they even bother trying..

Yeah, it can often seem like teachers are beeing outright a-holes, but thats usually your own fault for fucking things up in the first place..

If you treat them right, they will treat you right..

obviously you've never been to my schools, teachers are human beings, and human beings love to troll and be assholes for no reason at all sometimes.

 

[LordFisheh]

While hitting back for those types of accusations seems fair enough, the part that really pissed me off was where the teacher forced a pupil to enter their password in order to trawl through their Facebook.

Sosa is currently drafting an apology to her teacher. At the same time though, she said her school principal, Jolene Morris, violated her privacy by ordering her to log into her Facebook account at a school library computer. Morris then reportedly read the offending post and ensuing responses from friends before ordering Sosa to delete the posts.

I have no idea if that's legal in the US, but it sure as hell isn't right.

There seems to be a problem in schools with teachers viewing themselves not as authority figures but as genuine superiors who should be unquestioned and free to be as unreasonable as they like. Slander may be illegal, but essentially forcing your way into someone's private social network? How is that different from a school bugging is pupils emails, or reading their texts? Hell, the Facebook example can be seen as worse, since it involved the use of authority to intimidate a child into granting access. School staff should remember their places as equals, and consider that - when they students go on to pay taxes - the students are essentially their customers.

 

[Woodsey]

The lesson learned: Never say anything you wouldn't want teachers or employers to know about on an account connected to your real name. Make a new account with a fake name, on Facebook or somewhere else, if you want more freedom of speech.

Or don't befriend your teachers/employers. They have no reason to start poking into your life outside of school/work if you don't involve them in it that way.

 

[Mechsoap]

What happened to freedom of speech? If I would call my teacher a pedophile, it would create a laugh.